Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 13th, 2019–Feb 14th, 2019
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Conditions will change soon, with one more day of low danger before the next storm arrives on Friday. We continue to search for buried surface hoar in isolated locations, and although we have let to see an avalanche release on it - we remain wary.

Weather Forecast

Thursday is the warm up day with a cold morning (-25) but expect highs in some areas up to -5 with generally clear skies and no new snow.  Friday and Saturday look snowy with 10 cm expected each day but winds and temperatures will remain moderate.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow overlies low density facets that formed near the surface during the current cold spell. These surface conditions can produce dry loose avalanches in steep places, but slab formation has been minimal. The distribution of the Jan 17 SH is spotty, but in some areas (Kootenay) it appears prominent; strength tests are hard & sudden

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

We expect the odd windslab to rear its head in steep, alpine terrain. Pay particular attention to this if you are in any terrain with consequence below you such as cliffs or other terrain traps.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Loose Dry

Consistent cold temperatures have faceted the upper snowpack. In steep alpine features loose surface snow can easily entrain mass causing small avalanches. Thin steep rocky terrain is the prime candidate for this problem.
Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain..

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1